"Young felt the attraction first. Throughout the semester, she found excuses to pass Townsend fliers for the political activist group that she belonged to on campus; she was devastated when she later found those fliers left behind after class. She would go to watch Townsend shoot hoops, even though she hates sports. 'She would be reading books at the game,' Townsend teases. Young would come into the gymnasium in her girlie high-heeled boots, in clothes completely ridiculous for a basketball court. Young protests: 'I was trying!'"

There is a shorter video of the first wedding and a longer video, via HRC Backstory, of the first three weddings. Watch the happy couples WHEN YOU JUMP ...

03 March 2010

There's very emotional video shot by DC Agenda that features several black gay and lesbian couples getting married in Washington DC. Rocky Galloway (left) and Reggie Stanley—who are profiled at Freedom to Marry—were among the first of about 100 couples applying for marriage licenses. Galloway says, "We're the parents of two daughters. And they'll grow up in a household where their parents are married, like any other household in the District of Columbia."

Stanley adds: "We're proud of the institution [of marriage] and what it means to each other and to our community."

As a result of yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, the Washington D.C. Superior Court began accepting marriage license applications from same-sex couples this morning. Described it as "a historic milestone for gay couples and activists". The District of Columbia becomes the sixth jurisdiction in the United States where marriage equality is the law. It's also the only jurisdiction south of the Mason-Dixon Line where gays and lesbians can legally wed.

Young and Townsend will be married at the Human Rights Campaign on March 9, after waiting the mandatory 3-business days. The couples has two children ages 21 and 25 who are "so excited about this," Young adds.